Optical fiber connector and assembly method therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a type of optical fibre connector, comprising: an external shell; an internal shell, installed within said external shell; an inserted core component, contained within said internal shell and comprising an inserted core and a length of optical fibre pre-installed within said inserted core; and a spring, contained within said internal shell and located behind said inserted core, and being for exerting a pre-set axial force on said inserted core. Said internal shell includes a front part and a rear part; said rear part is assembled on said front part. Additionally, said spring is compressed between said rear part and said inserted core. In the present invention, the rear part can act as a retainer for the compressed spring and can also be for securing the Kevlar fibre extension tube of the optical cable. As a result, in comparison to the prior art, the present invention reduces the number of components of the optical fibre connector and simplifies the structure of the optical fibre connector, thus facilitating rapid on-site assembly of the optical fibre connector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application requests that the rights and interests claimed underChinese patent application numbers 201410502692.x and 201420560176.8filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on 26 Sep. 2014 andthe entire content disclosed in these applications be incorporated intothis text by virtue of referencing them.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a type of optical fibre connector andan on-site method of assembling that optical fibre connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, optical fibre fusion connectors that connect to theends of optical cables via fusion splicing of optical fibre generallycomprise an internal shell, an external shell, an inserted corecomponent, a spring, a spring protector, optical cable securingcomponents, a fusion splice protective sleeve, a strain relief boot anda dust cap. The inserted core component includes an inserted core and asection of pre-installed optical fibre retained within the insertedcore. This section of pre-installed optical fibre is for fusion splicingwith the incoming optical fibre of the optical cable.

In the prior art, when assembling optical fibre connectors on-site, itis necessary to install the dust cap, inserted core component, springand spring retainer within the internal shell one-by-one, then to fusionsplice the pre-installed optical fibre and the incoming optical fibre ofthe optical cable together. The fusion splice protective sleeve is thenconnected with the rear end of the internal shell and the buffer sleeve(this being a component part of the optical cable) of the incomingoptical fibre, thus ensuring that the fusion splice between thepre-installed optical fibre and the incoming optical fibre is protectedwithin the protective sleeve. Then the optical cable securing componentis installed on the internal shell, with the optical cable Kevlar fibrebeing secured to the optical cable securing component. Finally, thestrain relief boot is installed over the optical cable securingcomponent and the internal shell installed within the external shell.

In the prior art, the optical cable securing component generallyincludes a relatively long extension tube and a heat shrink tubing/acrimping sleeve. The front end of the extension tube connects to therear end of the internal shell, and the fusion splice protective sleeveis contained within the extension tube. The optical cable Kevlar fibreis secured to the rear end of the extension tube by heat shrink tubing/acrimping sleeve.

The aforesaid optical fibre connector of the prior art includes arelatively large number of independent components, and has a verycomplex structure, making it unsuited to rapid on-site installation ofoptical fibre connectors, for such on-site assembly of optical fibreconnectors is very time consuming.

Moreover, in the prior art, the need to use fairly long extension tubesresults in excessively long optical fibre connectors and strain reliefboots that are too short, which can result in optical cables in opticalfibre connectors being damaged easily when subjected to lateral strain.In other words, it reduces the capacity of optical cables to withstandlateral loads.

Apart from this, in the prior art, it is also necessary to usespecialised crimping tools to crimp crimping sleeves or strain reliefboots onto the rear end of the extension tube, increasing the difficultyof on-site assembly of optical fibre connectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to resolve at least one aspect ofthe above mentioned problems and defects of the prior art.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a type of optical fibreconnector which can be rapidly assembled on-site.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it provides a type ofoptical fibre connector comprising: an external shell; an internalshell, installed within said external shell; an inserted core component,contained within said internal shell and comprising an inserted core anda length of optical fibre pre-installed within said inserted core; and aspring, contained within said internal shell and being located behindsaid inserted core, for exerting a pre-set axial force on said insertedcore. Said internal shell includes a front part and a rear part, saidrear part being assembled on said front part; said spring is compressedbetween said rear part and said inserted core.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical fibre connector also includes a temporary retention component,said temporary retention component being capable of assembly on saidfront part, and being for pre-retaining said inserted core component andsaid spring in said front part before the rear part is assembled ontothe front part. Additionally, in the process of assembling said rearpart onto said front part, said temporary retention componentautomatically drops from said front part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aweak section is formed on said temporary retention component.Additionally, said rear part is constructed in such a way that duringthe process of the rear part being assembled on the front part, itinterferes with the temporary retention component, causing said weaksection to break and thus causing the temporary retention component todrop from said front part automatically.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidtemporary retention component is suitable for fitting over the rear endsection of said front part, the front end section of said rear partbeing suitable for insertion into the rear end section of said frontpart.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a raised section formed on the internal wall of said temporaryretention component. After the temporary retention component isassembled on said front part, said raised section presses down on therear end of said spring, thus temporarily retaining said inserted corecomponent and said spring within said front part. There is a recessedpositioning section formed on the external wall of the front end sectionof said rear part which matches and interferes with said raised sectionand which is for causing the weak section of the temporary retentioncomponent to break and for ensuring the correct orientation of said rearpart when inserted into said front part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, acatch groove is formed on a raised section of said temporary retentioncomponent. Additionally, on said rear part there is a raised sectionformed within the recessed positioning section which matches the catchgroove and which is for guiding insertion of said rear part into saidtemporary retention component.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a flexible catch formed on said temporary retention component,said flexible catch being suitable for catching in the recess formed onsaid front part so as to facilitate assembly of said temporary retentioncomponent onto said front part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, onthe front end section of said rear part there is a raised section. Saidraised section is suitable for catching in the opening formed on saidfront part, so as to facilitate assembly of said rear part on said frontpart.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,after said rear part is assembled on said front part, a cylindricalfront end section of said rear part is fitted over said spring.Additionally, the rear end of said spring is pressed onto the steppedobstructing surface formed on the internal wall of said rear part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidpre-installed optical fibre is for fusion splicing together with theincoming optical fibre of the optical cable connected with said opticalfibre connector.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thefusion splice between said pre-installed optical fibre and said incomingoptical fibre is contained within a protective sleeve. Additionally, thefront end of said protective sleeve is connected to the buffer tubeencapsulating said pre-installed optical fibre, the rear end beingconnected to the buffer tube encapsulating said incoming optical fibre.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical fibre connector also includes a dust cap. Said dust cap isfitted over the front end section of said inserted core in order toprotect the pre-installed optical fibre within said inserted core.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,before said rear part is assembled on said front part, said dust cap,said inserted core component and said spring are retained on said frontpart by said temporary retention component.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical cable is an optical cable with Kevlar fibre, and the Kevlarfibre of said optical cable is secured by the heat shrink tubing to therear end section of the rear part of said internal shell. Additionally,the front end of said heat shrink tubing is heat shrunk onto the rearend section of said rear part, the rear end being heat shrunk onto theexternal protective cover of said optical cable.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical cable is an optical cable without Kevlar fibre, and said opticalfibre connector also includes heat shrink tubing for securing saidoptical cable. The front end of said heat shrink tubing is heat shrunkonto the rear end section of said rear part, and the rear end is heatshrunk onto the external protective cover of said optical cable.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical fibre connector also includes a strain relief boot. The frontend of said strain relief boot is fitted over said heat shrink tubing,and the rear end is fitted over the external protective cover of saidoptical cable.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a threaded connecting section formed on the rear end section ofsaid rear part. Additionally, the Kevlar fibre of said optical cable issecured on the rear end section of the rear part of said internal shellby being in a threaded connection with a threaded sleeve on the rear endsection of said rear part. Additionally, one section of the externalprotective cover of the front end of said optical cable is cut into twohalves and is pressed in between said threaded sleeve and the rear endsection of said rear part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a conical pressure surface formed on the internal wall of saidthreaded sleeve. Said conical pressure surface faces the edge of the endsurface of the rear end section of said rear part. Additionally, theexternal protective cover of said optical cable is pressed between theconical pressure surface of said threaded sleeve and the edge of the endsurface of the rear end section of said rear part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical fibre connector also includes a strain relief boot. The frontend of said strain relief boot is fitted over said threaded sleeve, andthe rear end is fitted over the external protective cover of saidoptical cable.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it provides amethod for assembly of the aforesaid optical fibre connector, comprisingthe following steps:

S100: the inserted core component and spring are pre-retained withinsaid front part; and,

S200: said rear part is assembled within said front part, resulting insaid spring being compressed between said rear part and said insertedcore.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidinserted core component and spring are pre-retained within said frontpart by installing a temporary retention component on said front part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, inthe process of assembling said rear part onto said front part, saidtemporary retention component automatically drops from said front part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aweak section is formed on said temporary retention component.Additionally, said rear part is constructed in such a way that duringthe process of the rear part being assembled on the front part, itinterferes with the temporary retention component, causing said weaksection to break and causing said temporary retention component to dropfrom said front part automatically.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidtemporary retention component is suitable for fitting over the rear endsection of said front part, the front end section of said rear partbeing suitable for insertion into the rear end section of said frontpart.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a raised section formed on the internal wall of said temporaryretention component. After the temporary retention component isassembled on said front part, said raised section presses down on therear end of said spring, thus temporarily retaining said inserted corecomponent and said spring within said front part. Additionally, there isa recessed positioning section formed on the external wall of the frontend section of said rear part which matches and interferes with saidraised section and which is for causing the weak section of thetemporary retention component to break and for ensuring the correctorientation of said rear part when inserted into said front part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, acatch groove is formed on a raised section of said temporary retentioncomponent. Additionally, on said rear part there is a raised sectionformed within the recessed positioning section which matches the catchgroove and which is for guiding insertion of said rear part into saidtemporary retention component.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a flexible catch formed on said temporary retention component.Said flexible catch is suitable for catching in the recess on said frontpart so as to facilitate assembly of said temporary retention componentonto said front part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, onthe front end section of said rear part there is a raised section. Saidraised section is suitable for catching in the opening formed on saidfront part so as to facilitate assembly of said rear part on said frontpart.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,after said rear part is assembled on said front part, a cylindricalfront end section of said rear part is fitted over the spring.Additionally, the rear end of said spring is pressed onto the steppedobstructing surface formed on the internal wall of said rear part.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical fibre connector also includes a dust cap. Said dust cap isfitted over the front end section of said inserted core in order toprotect the pre-installed optical fibre within said inserted core.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, before saidrear part is assembled on said front part, said dust cap, said insertedcore component and said spring are pre-retained in said front part bysaid temporary retention component.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thepreviously mentioned method further includes a step: after the insertedcore component and spring have been pre-retained within said front partand before said rear part has been assembled on said front part, theincoming optical fibre of said optical cable is fusion spliced with saidpre-installed optical fibre.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thepreviously mentioned method further includes a step: prior to assemblyof said rear part within said front part, the two ends of the protectivesleeve are connected respectively with the buffer tubing of saidincoming optical fibre and said pre-installed optical fibre, ensuringthat the fusion splice between said incoming optical fibre and saidpre-installed optical fibre is contained within said protective sleeve.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, theoptical cable is an optical cable with Kevlar fibre, and the Kevlarfibre of said optical cable is secured by the heat shrink tubing to therear end section of the rear part of said internal shell. Additionally,the front end of said heat shrink tubing is heat shrunk onto the rearend section of said rear part, and the rear end is heat shrunk onto theexternal protective cover of said optical cable.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, saidoptical cable is an optical cable without Kevlar fibre, and said opticalfibre connector also includes heat shrink tubing for securing saidoptical cable. The front end of said heat shrink tubing is heat shrunkonto the rear end section of said rear part, and the rear end is heatshrunk onto the external protective cover of said optical cable.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thepreviously mentioned method further includes a step: the strain reliefboot is fitted over said heat shrink tubing and external protectivecover of said optical cable, and said internal shell is installed withinsaid external shell.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a threaded connecting section formed on the rear end section ofsaid rear part. Additionally, the Kevlar fibre of said optical cable issecured on the rear end section of the rear part of said internal shellby being in a threaded connection with a threaded sleeve on the rear endsection of said rear part. Additionally, one section of the externalprotective cover of the front end of said optical cable is cut into twohalves and is pressed in between said threaded sleeve and the rear endsection of said rear part,

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention,there is a conical pressure surface formed on the internal wall of saidthreaded sleeve. Said conical pressure surface faces the edge of the endsurface of the rear end section of the rear part. Additionally, theexternal protective cover of said optical cable is pressed between theconical pressure surface of said threaded sleeve and the edge of the endsurface of the rear end section of said rear part,

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, thepreviously mentioned method further includes a step: the strain reliefboot is fitted over said threaded sleeve and external protective coverof said optical cable, and said internal shell is installed within saidexternal shell.

In the optical fibre connector of all embodiments of the presentinvention, the internal shell is separated into two parts, a front partand a rear part. The rear part may serve as a retainer for thecompressed spring and may be used to secure the optical cable Kevlarfibre extension tube. Therefore, compared to the prior art, the presentinvention reduces the number of components of the optical fibreconnector and simplifies the structure of the optical fibre connector,thus facilitating rapid on-site assembly of the optical fibre connector.

In addition, in the optical fibre connector of all embodiments of thepresent invention, the extension tube of the prior art is omitted. As aresult, the overall length of the optical fibre connector of to thepresent invention is shorter, while the strain relief boot is longer,thus increasing the capacity of the optical cable connecting to theoptical fibre connector to withstand lateral loads.

In addition, in the optical fibre connector of all embodiments of thepresent invention, there is no need to use any specialised tool whencarrying out on-site assembly of the optical fibre connector. Thedifficulty of on-site assembly of the optical fibre connector is thusreduced.

The descriptions of the present invention in the following text taken inconjunction with the drawings clarify other objectives and advantages ofthe present invention, and may be of assistance in gaining a fullunderstanding of the present invention.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents an exploded view of a first exemplary embodiment of theoptical fibre connector according to the present invention, the externalshell not being shown here;

FIG. 2 is a representation of a pre-installed part formed bypre-assembling the dust cap, inserted core component and spring in FIG.1 within the front part of the internal shell using a temporaryretention component;

FIG. 3 presents a cut-away view of the pre-installed part in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a magnified representation of the temporary retentioncomponent in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a magnified representation of the rear part of the internalshell in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a representation of the pre-installed optical fibre and theincoming optical fibre of the optical cable fusion spliced togetherafter the pre-assembled part in FIG. 2 has been formed;

FIG. 7 is a representation of the protective sleeve the two ends ofwhich have been separately joined to the buffer tubing of thepre-installed optical fibre and the incoming optical fibre after thepre-installed optical fibre and incoming optical fibre have been fusionspliced together;

FIG. 8 is a representation of the rear part of the internal shellinserted into the front part, and the Kevlar fibre of the optical cableplaced on the rear end section of the rear part;

FIG. 9 is a representation of the heat shrink tubing heat shrunk ontothe rear end section of the rear part of the internal shell and theoptical cable;

FIG. 10 is a representation of the complete optical fibre connectorresulting from installing the strain relief boot over the heat shrinktubing and optical cable and installing the internal shell within theexternal shell;

FIG. 11 is a cut-away view of the optical fibre connector shown in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a cut-away view of the optical fibre connector according toexemplary embodiment 2 of the present invention, the external shell notbeing shown here; and

FIG. 13 is a cut-away view of the optical fibre connector shown in FIG.12, neither the external shell nor the optical cable being shown here.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The following embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings,provide a more detailed description of the technical schemes of thepresent invention. Within the description, numbering that is the same orsimilar in the drawings refers to components that are the same orsimilar. The aim of the following description of implementations of thepresent invention taken in conjunction with the drawings are to aid inthe interpretation of the overall inventive conceptual framework of thepresent invention, and should not be understood as restricting thepresent invention in any way.

In addition, in the following detailed descriptions, for convenience ofinterpretation, many specific details are provided in order to allow afull understanding of the embodiments disclosed. However, it should beclear that one or more embodiment could be implemented without thesespecific details. In all other cases, structures and devices which arecommon knowledge are represented graphically to allow simplification ofthe drawings.

According to an overall technical concept of the present invention, itprovides an optical fibre connector comprising: an external shell; aninternal shell, installed within said external shell; an inserted corecomponent, contained within said internal shell and comprising aninserted core and a length of optical fibre pre-installed within saidinserted core; and a spring, contained within said internal shell andbeing located behind said inserted core, for exerting a pre-set axialforce on said inserted core. Said internal shell includes a front partand a rear part, said rear part being assembled on said front part; saidspring is compressed between said rear part and said inserted core.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the first exemplary embodiment of theoptical fibre connector according to the present invention, the externalshell 200 not being shown here.

As is shown in FIG. 1, in an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the optical fibre connector mainly includes an internal shell100, an external shell 200, an inserted core component, a spring 500,heat shrink tubing 700 and a strain relief boot 800.

FIG. 10 is a representation of the complete optical fibre connectorresulting from installing the strain relief boot 800 over the heatshrink tubing 700 and optical cable 10 and installing the internal shell100 within the external shell 200; FIG. 11 is a cut-away view of theoptical fibre connector in FIG. 10.

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 1, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, theinserted core component is contained within the internal shell 100, andthe inserted core component includes an inserted core 300 and a lengthof pre-installed optical fibre 21 within the inserted core 300. In theembodiment depicted in the drawing, the rear end of the pre-installedoptical fibre 21 extends out of the rear end section 320 of the insertedcore 300 in order to facilitate fusion splicing with the incomingoptical fibre 11 of the optical cable 10.

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 1, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, a spring500, contained within the internal shell 100 and located behind theinserted core 300, is for exerting a pre-set axial force on the insertedcore 300.

With further reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 3. 10 and FIG. 11, in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, the internal shell 100includes a front part 110 and a rear part 120, the rear part 120 beingcapable of being assembled on the front part 110. After the rear part120 has been assembled on the front part 110, the spring 500 iscompressed between the rear part 120 and the inserted core 300.

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 1, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, theoptical cable 10 connected to the optical fibre connector possessesKevlar fibre (a strengthening component) 13, and that Kevlar fibre 13 issecured to the rear end section 122 of the rear part 120.

FIG. 2 is a representation of a pre-installed part 1000 formed of thefront part 110 pre-assembled from the dust cap 900, inserted corecomponent and spring 500 in FIG. 1 in the internal shell 100 using atemporary retention component; FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of thepre-installed part 1000 in FIG. 2.

In the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIC-3. 3,the optical fibre connector may also include a temporary retentioncomponent 400. The temporary retention component 400 is capable ofassembly on the front part 110 and is for pre-retaining the insertedcore component and spring 500 in the front part 110 before the rear part120 is assembled on the front part 110.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the temporaryretention component 400 is constructed in such a way that during theprocess of assembling the rear part 120 on the front part 110 it dropsfrom the front part 110 automatically.

FIG. 4 is a magnified representation of the temporary retentioncomponent 400 in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a magnified representation of therear part 120 of the internal shell 100 in FIG. 1.

In the embodiment graphically represented in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a weaksection 440, e.g., a thin wall section, a cut section or section thatcan be easily broken in some other way, is formed on the temporaryretention component 400. The rear part 120 is constructed in such a waythat, during the process of assembling the rear part 120 on the frontpart 110, it interferes with the temporary retention component 400,causing the weak section 440 to break and causing the temporaryretention component 400 to drop from the front part 110 automatically.

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the temporaryretention component 400 is suitable for fitting over the rear endsection of the front part 110, and the front end section 121 of the rearpart 120 is suitable for insertion into the rear end section of thefront part 110.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, in an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, there is a raised section 420 formed on the internal wall ofthe temporary retention component 400. After the temporary retentioncomponent 400 is assembled on the front part 110, the raised section 420presses down on the rear end of the spring 500, temporarily retainingthe inserted core component and spring 500 within the front part 110.Additionally, there is a recessed positioning section 125 formed on theexternal wall of the front end section 121 of the rear part 120 whichmatches and interferes with the raised section 420 and which is forcausing the weak section 440 of the temporary retention component 400 tobreak and ensuring the correct orientation of the rear part 120 wheninserted into the front part 110.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as indicated inFIG. 2 to FIG. 5, a catch groove 430 is formed on the raised section 420of the temporary retention component 400. Additionally, on the rear part120 there is a raised section 126 formed within the recessed positioningsection 125 which matches the catch groove 430 and which is for guidinginsertion of the rear part 120 into the temporary retention component400.

In the depicted embodiment, when the front end section 121 of the rearpart 120 is inserted into the temporary retention component 400, theraised section 420 of the temporary retention component 400 matches andinterferes with the recessed positioning section 125 of the rear part120, causing the temporary retention component 400 to gradually expandoutwards, and causing the weak section 440 on the temporary retentioncomponent 400 to break.

In addition, in the depicted embodiment, in order to facilitateinsertion of the front end section 121 of the rear part 120 into thetemporary retention component 400, there are angled guide surfaces 125 aand 126 a formed on the recessed positioning section 125 of the rearpart 120 and on the front end of the raised section 126, respectively.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as represented inFIGS. 1 through 5, there is a flexible catch 410 formed on the temporaryretention component 400. The flexible catch 410 is for catching in therecess 115 on the front part 110 in order to facilitate assembly of thetemporary retention component 400 onto the front part 110.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as represented inFIGS. 1 through 5, on the front end section 121 of the rear part 120there is a raised section 124. The raised section 124 is suitable forcatching in the opening 114 formed on the front part 110 in order tofacilitate assembly of the rear part 120 on the front part 110.

In the embodiment graphically represented in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, afterthe rear part 120 is assembled on the front part 110, the cylindricalfront end section 121 of the rear part 120 is fitted over the spring500. Additionally, the rear end of the spring 500 is pressed onto thestepped obstructing surface 127 formed on the internal wall of the rearpart 120.

In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, in order to prevent the rearpart 120 from being inserted into the front part 110 too far, there is araised edge section 123 on the rear part 120. The raised edge section123 is located between the front end section 121 and rear end section122 of the rear part 120. When the rear part 120 is inserted into thefront part 110, the raised edge section 123 comes to rest against thewall of the rear end of the front part 110, thus preventing the rearpart 120 from being inserted too far into the front part 110.

FIG. 6 is a representation of the pre-installed optical fibre 21 and theincoming optical fibre 11 of the optical cable 10 fusion splicedtogether after the pre-assembled part 1000 in FIG. 2 has been assembled.FIG. 7 is a representation of the protective sleeve 600 the two ends ofwhich have been joined to the buffer tubing 22 and 12 of thepre-installed optical fibre 21 and incoming optical fibre 11, after thepre-installed optical fibre 21 and incoming optical fibre 11 have beenfusion spliced together.

As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the fusion splicebetween the pre-installed optical fibre 21 and the incoming opticalfibre 11 is located within a protective sleeve 600. Additionally, thefront end of the protective sleeve 600 is connected to the buffer tube22 encapsulating the pre-installed optical fibre 21, and the rear end isconnected to the buffer tube 12 encapsulating the incoming optical fibre11 in an embodiment of the present invention, the protective sleeve 600may be heat shrink tubing or cold shrink tubing.

In the embodiment graphically represented in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, theoptical fibre connector also includes a dust cap 900. The dust cap 900is fitted over the front end section 310 of the inserted core 300 inorder to protect the pre-installed optical fibre 21 within the insertedcore 300.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention represented in FIG.2 and FIG. 3, before the rear part 120 is assembled on the front part110, the dust cap 900, inserted core component and spring 500 areretained on the front part 110 by the temporary retention component 400.

FIG. 8 is a representation of the rear part 120 of the internal shell100 inserted into the front part 110, and the Kevlar fibre 13 of theoptical cable 10 placed on the rear end section 122 of the rear part120. FIG. 9 is a representation of the heat shrink tubing 700 heatshrunk onto the rear end section 122 of the rear part 120 of theinternal shell 100 and the optical cable 10.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention graphicallyrepresented in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the Kevlar fibre 13of the optical cable 10 is secured to the rear end section 122 of therear part 120 of the internal shell 100 by heat shrink tubing 700. Thefront end of the heat shrink tubing 700 is heat shrunk onto the rear endsection 122 of the rear part 120 and is for securing the Kevlar fibre 13of the optical cable 10 on the rear end section 122 of the rear part 120of the internal shell 100. The rear end of the heat shrink tubing 700 isheat shrunk onto the external protective cover of the optical cable 10.

In the embodiment graphically represented in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, thefront end of the strain relief boot 800 is installed over the heatshrink tubing 700, and the rear end of the strain relief boot 800 isinstalled over the external protective cover of the optical cable 10.

The following taken in conjunction with FIG. 1 through PG. 11 provides adetailed description of the assembly process of the optical fibreconnector of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Firstly, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the temporary retentioncomponent 400 is used to pre-retain the dust cap 900, the inserted corecomponent and spring 500 within the front part 110 of the internal shell100, forming the pre-installed part 1000. It should be noted that thispre-installed part 1000 can be completed at the factory, and does notrequire on-site assembly, thus reducing the amount of work required bythe on-site assembly of the optical fibre connector.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 6, the pre-installed optical fibre 21 andthe incoming optical fibre 11 of the optical cable 10 are fusion splicedtogether.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the two ends of the protective sleeve600 are connected respectively with the buffer tubing 12 and 22 of theincoming optical fibre 11 and the pre-installed optical fibre 21,ensuring that the fusion splice between the incoming optical fibre 11and the pre-installed optical fibre 21 is contained within theprotective sleeve 600.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the rear part 120 of the internalshell 100 is assembled within the front part 110, resulting in thespring 500 being compressed between rear part 120 and the inserted core300 and also causing the temporary retention component 400 to break andautomatically drop off the front part 110.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the heat shrink tubing 700 is heatshrunk onto the rear end section 122 of the rear part 120 and theexternal protective cover of the optical cable 10, thus securing theKevlar fibre 13 of the optical cable 10 on the rear end section 122 ofthe rear part 120 of the internal shell 100.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the strain relief boot 800 isinstalled over the heat shrink tubing 700 and the external protectivecover of the optical cable 10, and the internal shell 100 is installedwithin the external shell 200, thus completing the assembly of the wholeoptical fibre connector.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 11, the optical cable 10connected to the optical fibre connector is an optical cable whichpossesses Kevlar fibre 13. However, the present invention is notrestricted to the embodiment diagrammatically represented here, and theoptical cable connected to the optical fibre connector may also beoptical cable without Kevlar fibre, e.g., “FIG. of 8” optical cable.However, where this type of optical cable is concerned, the opticalfibre and the buffer tubing encapsulating the optical fibre may not moverelative to the external protective cover of the optical cable. As aresult, it is necessary to leave a fairly long section of buffer tubingexposed on the optical cable. When optical fibre connectors are used inthis manner (the front end of the inserted core becomes compressed), therelatively long section of exposed optical cable buffer tubing caneasily become bent, causing the inserted core to move slightly. Thus,the optical fibre connector cannot produce [sic] additional insertionloss because of the bending, nor can it prevent breakage of the opticalcable under extreme circumstances.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 12 is a cut-away view of the optical fibre connector according toexemplary embodiment 2 of the present invention (the external shell notbeing shown here), and FIG. 13 is a cut-away view of the optical fibreconnector shown in FIG. 12 (neither the external shell or optical cablebeing shown here).

The main difference between the optical fibre connector of embodiment 2shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and the optical fibre connector of embodiment 1shown in FIGS. 1 through 11 is the securing structure used to secure theKevlar fibre of the optical cable. Otherwise, the optical fibreconnector of embodiment 2 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and the optical fibreconnector of embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 through 11 are identical, andfor the sake of brevity, the following only provides a description ofareas in which embodiment 1 and embodiment 2 differ.

In the exemplary embodiment represented in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, there isa threaded connecting section 122 a formed on the rear end section 122′of the rear part 120′ of the internal shell. The Kevlar fibre 13 of theoptical cable 10 is secured on the rear end section 122′ of the rearpart 120′ of the internal shell by being in a threaded connection with athreaded sleeve 700′ on the rear end section 122′ of the rear part 120′.The front end of a section of external protective cover 14 of theoptical cable 10 is cut in two halves, and is pressed between the rearend section 122′ of the rear part 120′ and the threaded sleeve 700′.

In the embodiment graphically represented in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, thereis a conical pressure surface 700 b formed on the internal wall of thethreaded sleeve 700′. The conical pressure surface 700 b faces the edge122 b of the end surface of the rear end section 122′ of the rear part120′. Additionally, the external protective cover 14 of the opticalcable 10 is pressed between the conical pressure surface 700 b of thethreaded sleeve 700′ and the edge 122 b of the end surface of the rearend section 122′ of the rear part 120′.

In embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, after the threaded sleeve700′ is in a threaded connection with the rear end section 122′ of therear part 120′ of the internal shell, the strain relief boot 800′ isinstalled over the threaded sleeve 700′ and the external protectivecover of the optical cable 10.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction withthe drawings, the objective of the embodiments disclosed by the drawingsis purely to provide illustrative descriptions of preferredimplementations of the present invention, and should not be understoodas constituting any kind of restriction on the present invention.

Although some embodiments of the overall concepts of the presentinvention have been displayed and described, a person of ordinary skillin the art would be able to make various modifications to theseembodiments which do not depart from the principles and spirit embodiedby the concepts of the present invention. The scope of the presentinvention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

It should be understood that, the word “including” or “comprising” doesnot exclude other components or steps, and the word “a”, “an” or “one”does not exclude more than one. In addition, the labelling of anycomponent in the claims should not be understood as restricting thescope of the present invention in any way.

1. An optical fibre connector, comprising: an external shell; aninternal shell, installed within said external shell; a core component,contained within said internal shell and comprising a core and a sectionof optical fibre pre-installed within said core; and a spring containedwithin said internal shell and located behind said core, for exerting apre-set axial force on said core, wherein said internal shell comprisesa front part and a rear part, said rear part being assembled on saidfront part; and wherein said spring is compressed between said rear partand said core.
 2. The optical fibre connector of claim 1, wherein: saidoptical fibre connector further comprises a temporary retentioncomponent, said temporary retention component being capable of assemblyon said front part, and being for pre-retaining said core component andsaid spring within said front part before the rear part is assembled onthe front part.
 3. The optical fibre connector of claim 2: wherein saidtemporary retention component includes a weak section; and wherein saidrear part-is adapted, when assembling the rear part on the front part,to interfere with the temporary retention component, causing said weaksection to break and causing said temporary retention component todetach from said front part.
 4. The optical fibre connector of claim 3:wherein said temporary retention component is adapted for fitting overthe rear section of said front part, a cylindrical front end section ofsaid rear part being adapted for insertion into the rear section of saidfront part.
 5. The optical fibre connector as described in claim 4:wherein said temporary retention component includes an internal wallhaving a raised section, the raised section being adapted to press on arear end of said spring to temporarily retain said core component andsaid spring within said front part; and wherein a recessed positioningsection on an external wall of the front end section of said rear partmatches and interferes with said raised section, the recessedpositioning section being adapted to cause the weak section of saidtemporary retention component to break and to provide a correctorientation of said rear part when inserted into said front part.
 6. Theoptical fibre connector of claim 5: that: wherein the raised section ofsaid temporary retention component includes a catch groove; and whereinsaid rear part includes a raised section within the recessed positioningsection which corresponds to said catch groove and is adapted forguiding insertion of said rear part into said temporary retentioncomponent.
 7. The optical fibre connector of claim 6: wherein saidtemporary retention component includes a flexible catch, said flexiblecatch being adapted to catch in a recess on said front part so as tofacilitate assembly of said temporary retention component on said frontpart.
 8. The optical fibre connector of claim 7: wherein the front endsection of said rear part includes a raised section, said raised sectionbeing adapted to catch in the opening of said front part so as tofacilitate assembly of said rear part on said front part.
 9. The opticalfibre connector of claim 8: wherein when said rear part is assembled onsaid front part, the cylindrical front end section of said rear part isfitted over said spring; and wherein the rear end of said spring ispressed onto a stepped obstructing surface on an internal wall of saidrear part (120).
 10. The optical fibre connector of claim 1: whereinsaid pre-installed optical fibre is adapted to be fused with an incomingoptical fibre from an optical cable connected to said optical fibreconnector.
 11. The optical fibre connector of claim 10: wherein a fusionsplice is provided between said pre-installed optical fibre and saidincoming optical fibre, the fusion splice being located within aprotective sleeve; and wherein a front end of the protective sleeve isconnected to a buffer tube encapsulating said pre-installed opticalfibre.
 12. The optical fibre connector of claim 11: wherein said opticalfibre connector further comprises a dust cap, said dust cap being fittedover a front end section of said core and adapted to protect thepre-installed optical fibre within said core.
 13. The optical fibreconnector of claim 12: wherein before said rear part is assembled onsaid front part, said temporary retention component pre-retains saiddust cap, said core component and said spring (500) in said front part(110).
 14. The optical fibre connector as of claim 13: wherein saidoptical cable is an optical cable with Kevlar fibre, and wherein theKevlar fibre of said optical cable is secured by heat shrink tubing; andwherein a front end of said heat shrink tubing is heat shrunk onto therear end section of said rear part, a rear end of said heat shrinktubing being heat shrunk onto an external protective cover of saidoptical cable.
 15. The optical fibre connector of claim 13: wherein saidoptical cable is an optical cable without Kevlar fibre, and wherein saidoptical fibre connector further comprises heat shrink tubing forsecuring said optical cable, a front end of said heat shrink tubingbeing heat shrunk onto the rear end section of said rear part, a rearend of said heat shrink tubing being heat shrunk onto an externalprotective cover of said optical cable.
 16. The optical fibre connectorof claim 14: wherein said optical fibre connector further comprises astrain relief boot, a front end of said strain relief boot being adaptedto fit over said heat shrink tubing, and a rear end of said strainrelief boot being adapted to fit over the external protective cover ofsaid optical cable.
 17. The optical fibre connector of claim 13: whereina rear end section of said rear part includes a threaded connectionsection, wherein a Kevlar fibre of said optical cable is adapted to besecured on the rear end section of the rear part of said internal shellin a threaded connection with a threaded sleeve on the rear end sectionof said rear part; and wherein a front end of one section of an externalprotective cover of said optical cable includes two halves, betweenwhich are pressed said threaded sleeve and the rear end section of saidrear part.
 18. The optical fibre connector of claim 17: wherein aninternal wall of the threaded sleeve includes a conical pressure surfacefacing an edge of an end surface of the rear end section of said rearpart; and wherein the external protective cover of said optical cable ispressed between the conical pressure surface and the edge of the endsurface of the rear end section of said rear part.
 19. The optical fibreconnector of claim 17: wherein said optical fibre connector furthercomprises a strain relief boot, a front end of said strain relief bootbeing adapted to fit over said threaded sleeve, and a rear end of saidstrain relief boot being adapted to fit over the external protectivecover of said optical cable. 20-39. (canceled)
 40. The optical fibreconnector of claim 2, wherein said temporary retention component isadapted to fall way from the front part when assembling the rear partand the front part together.
 41. An optical fibre connector assembly,comprising: an external shell; an internal shell adapted to be installedwithin the external shell, the internal shell including a front part anda rear part adapted to be assembled together; a core componentcomprising a core and a section of optical fibre installed within thecore; a spring for exerting a pre-set axial force on the core; and atemporary retention component adapted to be assembled to the front partof the internal shell to retain the core component and the spring withinthe front part when the rear part and the front part are not assembledtogether.